An optical reader and the driving motor of a scanner are integrally mounted on a movable module, which can slide back and forth along a track to scan an image. The driving motor exerts a force on a fixed rack attached to the frame of the scanner through a pinion. The reaction to the force causes the movable module to slide. The rack and pinion mechanism can be replaced with a friction tape and roller combination, or a steel wire wrapped around a wheel attached to the movable module.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A contact image sensor reading head for scanning a fixed image placed stationary on the scan window of a flat bed scanner having a frame and a track in a direction parallel to a direction of said scanning, comprising a movable module, having a contact image sensor reader and a driving motor and movable back and forth along said track, and a fixed means connected between two points on said frame for receiving a force exerted by said movable module and causing said movable module to react and to slide along said track during said scanning.
2. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 1, wherein said forced exerted by said movable module is transmitted to said fixed means by means of a rack and pinion mechanism, in which a pinion is attached to said movable module and said rack forms said fixed means.
3. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 2, wherein said rack is a flexible grooved belt and the pinion is attached to the movable module.
4. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 2, wherein said pinion is driven by a driving motor.
5. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 2, wherein said rack is mounted on said frame.
6. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 2, wherein said rack is grooved in said frame of the scanner.
7. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 1, where said force exerted by said movable module is transmitted by friction with a roller attached to said movable module and a friction tape forming said fixed means.
8. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 1, wherein said fixed means is a wire wrapped around a driving wheel attached to said movable module.
9. A contact image sensor reading head as described in claim 1, wherein said fixed means is a ribbon wrapped around a driving wheel attached to said movable module.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 9, 1998
June 12, 2001
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